Suntrust Bank v. Baum

Filing 7

DEFAULT FINAL JUDGMENT in favor of Plaintiff and against Defendant, Gregory A. Baum in the amount of $400,200. Signed by Judge William J. Zloch on 4/22/2009. (bc)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA CASE NO. 09-60343-CIV-ZLOCH SUNTRUST BANK, Plaintiff, vs. GREGORY A. BAUM, Defendant. / THIS MATTER is before the Court upon Plaintiff Suntrust Bank's Motion For Default Final Judgment (DE 6). The Court has DEFAULT FINAL JUDGMENT

carefully reviewed said Motion and the entire court file and is otherwise fully advised in the premises. Defendant Gregory A. Baum was duly served with a copy of the Summons and Compliant on March 26, 2009, and has failed to file a response to Plaintiff's Complaint (DE 1) within the time

prescribed by law.

By prior Order (DE 5), the Court entered

Default against him, and Plaintiff now moves for Default Final Judgment. The well-pleaded allegations made in Plaintiff's Complaint (DE 1) are deemed to have been admitted by Defendant by virtue of his default. Cotton v. Mass. Mut. Life Ins. Co., 402 F.3d 1267, Thus, Defendant

1277-78 (11th Cir. 2005)(citations omitted).

executed a financial instrument (hereinafter "Note") obligating him to repay a $400,000.00 loan by the terms stated therein. 1, ¶ 5; DE 1, Ex. A. DE

Defendant failed to make the payments as

required by the Note, and Plaintiff is thus entitled to accelerate the amount due. DE 1, ¶ 7; DE 1, Ex. A, p. 4. For clarity of the

record, the Court notes that this action is before the Court pursuant to its diversity jurisdiction, for which Florida law supplies the rule of decision. Under Florida law, "[a]ll attacks

upon [a financial instrument], or the debt it represents, must be made by way of affirmative defenses as to which the burden of proof is on the defense." Haycook v. Ostman, 397 So. 2d 743, 744 Having default upon the Complaint

(Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1981).

filed here, Defendant waives his affirmative defenses to the Note and the debt it represents. Accordingly, after due consideration, it is ORDERED AND ADJUDGED as follows: 1. The Court has jurisdiction over the Parties hereto and the subject matter herein; 2. Plaintiff Suntrust Bank's Motion For Default Final

Judgment (DE 6) be and the same is hereby GRANTED 3. Pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 55 and 58, Default Final Judgment be and the same is hereby ENTERED in favor of Plaintiff Suntrust Bank and against Defendant Gregory A. Baum; 4. Plaintiff does have and recover from Defendant the sum of $400,200.00 plus interest accruing at the rate of 3.25% per annum from July 16, 2008, to the date of this Default Final Judgment, together with interest thereon at the rate of 0.55% per annum, for 2

all of which let execution issue; and 5. Plaintiff does have and recover from Defendant the sum of $350.00 in costs, for all of which let execution issue. DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida, this 22nd day of April, 2009.

WILLIAM J. ZLOCH United States District Judge Copies furnished: All Counsel of Record

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